Wire fabric.



O. R. HUNT.

WIRE FABRIG.

APPLICATION FILED .001. 3, 1901;.

908,774. Patented Jam.5,1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

*OZELLO R. HUNT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VAIL AND HUNT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WIRE FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 3, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OZELLO R. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wire Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to wire fabrics of the character now commonly employed for mattresses, beds, couches, etc; and my primary object is to provide a fabric of pleasing design, of strong and durable character and which can be more cheaply manufactured than other fabrics of the same general type.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a broken perspective view of a wire mattress constructed in ac cordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a broken perspective view of a double wire strand em ployed Fig. 3, a similar view of a single wire strand, which may be employed in a modified construction; and Fig. 4, a fragmental view of the improved fabric, the dotted lines showing a portion of the fabric extending at right-angles to another portion, indicating a line of hinging or folding, adapting the fabric for use in folding couch or sofa-bed construction.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2- and 4, A represents a ortion of a frame; and B, my improved fa ric. The fabric comprises longitudinal strands 1, and transverse connecting links 2. Each longitudinal strand 1 preferably comprises two small-gage wires 3 and 4 located side y side and in contact with each other and h aving downwardly struck offsets or half-eyes 5'. The transverse links 2 have hooks 6 at their extremities which engage the downwardly struck offsets 5 of the longitudinal strands. Preferably the hooks 6 interlock with each other, whereby the hooks are maintained in transverse alinement and prevented from shifting longitudinally with relation to the strands of the fabric. Ordinarily, the ends of the fabric are connected, by means of coil springs 8, with the end members of the frame A, in a well understood manner.

Where it is desirable to provide for folding of the fabric, I provide in the fabric, between two of the strands 1 thereof, a strand 9 adapted to serve as a hinge. In the illustration given, the strand 9 comprises two wires 10 and 11 having oppositely struck half-eyes 12 and 13 respectively, crossing each other. At this strand, the hooks of the transverse links 2 engage said half-eyes in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, but the hooks do not interlock with each other. Thus, the strand 9 will serve as a line of hinging, so that the fabric ma be folded upon itself, or may be folded with one portion at right-angles to another ortion. For instance, the dotted lines in ig. 4 are supposed to represent the rear portion of the fabric shown in full lines in Fig. 4 raised from a horizontal position to a vertical position, while the front ortion of said fabric remains in a horizonta position. It is obvious that this fabric is well adapted for use in connection with folding couches, folding sofa-beds, and the like. If desired, the single strand wire shown in Fig. 3 may be substituted for the strand 9 in Fig. 4, securing the same hinging result. For some uses, the sin le strand construction shown in Fig. 3 may he substituted for the double strand construction shown in Fig. 1, larger gage wire being employed to give the requisite strength.

It may be stated that the constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 4 are exceedingly strong and durable constructions, are of pleasing design, and may be manufactured at a low enough cost to place the fabric within the popular reach. It may be added that a arge number of lengths of wire may be simultaneously operated upon to produce the ofisets 5, so that it will at once be appreciated that a very economical construction is afforded.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no undue limitation is to be understood therefrom.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fabric comprising a plurality of strands and links arranged in transverse rows and uniting said strands, each of said strands comprising a wire having downstruck offsets at intervals, said linkshaving hooks at their ends, certain of said hooks engaging said wires at their offsets and also interlocking With each other, for the purpose I having downwardly struck offsets, said links set forth. having hooks engaging said offsets, said 2. A fabric composed of a plurality of siinihooks interlocking at certain strands.

lar strands and links arranged in rows and OZELLO R. HUNT.

uniting said strands, each strand composed In presence ofof two substantially straight Wires located A. U. THORIEN,

side by side in contact With each other and J. G. ANDERSON. 

